We Fear Silence Stuff...

Shogun Audio Photos – February 2012

chris — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:19:21 +0000

Well, what an amazing party that was! Arguably the gnarliest Shogun Audio rave to date took place on Saturday night here at Cable. Friction’s two hour performance was an education in how to get the crowd feeding from the palm of your hand and Fabio’s classic liquid set was the stuff of legends! It was carnival throughout as the old school vibe continued in Room 2, courtesy of Wookie and JJ Frost. A Shogun Audio ticket was hot property in the run up to the gig and there were queues around the block before the doors even opened! Roll on April…

Check out the Shogun snaps courtesy of Andrew Witts.

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Shogun Audio & We Fear Silence Competition: Tickets & T-Shirt up for grabs!

chris — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:39:17 +0000

We’ve been literally bombarded with emails from those of you who missed out on advance tickets for Saturday’s Shogun Audio party. Don’t worry though, we’ve just launched a very special We Fear Silence competition. Shogun Audio tickets are up for grabs along with one of our snazzy WFS T-Shirts!

Competition:
1st Prize – 1 x pair of tickets for Shogun Audio + 1 x We Fear Silence T-Shirt.
2nd Prize – 1 x pair of tickets for Shogun Audio.

To enter simply answer the question below. Email your answer to;
hello@wefearsilence.com

Which DJ founded the Shogun Audio record label with production partner-in-crime K-Tee?
a) Friction
b) Kinetic
c) Resistance

Remember guys we still have plenty of tickets for Saturdays party held back at the door. Doors open at 9pm so please arrive early to avoid disappointment. Thanks!

We Fear Silence present Shogun Audio – Saturday 18th February – Cable, London

Elijah & Skilliam ‘Live From Paris’ Mix & Interview

chris — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:08:31 +0000

Leaders of the new wave Elijah & Skilliam founded the ‘forward-looking’ grime blog Butterz, which they nurtured into the highly regarded record label of the same name. With the second Butterz & Hardrive We Fear Silence showcase taking place next month, we grabbed a few words with the pair ahead of the gig and managed to blag a recording of their recent performance in Paris… enjoy!

We’ve had your ‘Live from Paris’ mix on loads in the Cable office lately. Life on the road must be pretty hectic for some DJs. How do you cope? How do you chill out?

Elijah: My work is pretty varied I DJ in clubs, do radio and run the label and other random stuff like today I’m talking on a panel in Shoreditch House. I think if I am doing loads of different things I forget what is work and what is fun. That is how I like it.

Elijah & Skilliam ‘Live From Paris’

You raised the point on twitter recently about artists slating other artists that ‘give’ away free downloads. What are your thoughts on the subject? How does it affect your Butterz imprint?

Elijah: I think it is all good within reason. If you can match the amount of quality stuff you release officially for free then cool. I think sitting down and deliberately recording free download music is dumb. I think everyone in our scene should be pushing to have their stuff easily available on iTunes at least. It’s so easy these days there is no excuse!

Production-wise what else have you got in store for us in 2012? Any special collaborations?

Skilliam: We just did the Rinse 17 compilation towards the end of last year and right now we are working on a collaborative project with Greensleeves the reggae label to do some grime v reggae stuff later on this year. We are also working with a clothing label from New York called Mishka and doing some limited edition t shirts too.

How does it feel to bring Butterz & Hardrive back to Cable for your 2nd Birthday?

Elijah: The last one was one of the best events I have ever been involved in, and I still listen back to the sets from the night occasionally too. This time as its the Butterz label 2nd Birthday its a celebration of all the work we have been putting in, and a good time for the people that have joined us on that journey to come party with us too.

JME has been quietly gaining notoriety. What were your thoughts behind picking him to headline the show? Is he someone you would like to work with in the future?

Skilliam: JME has always stayed true to the sound, and done his thing independently and we all respect that here. He is a sick performer too, I think because you normally see him alongside Boy Better Know you don’t notice that much, but he has so many classic lyrics people will be going nuts. We booked him way before he charted with his recent track ’96 Fuckeries’ too, just incase people think it was because of that!

Last time round we heard several unreleased cuts. Is that going to be a tradition from now on?

Elijah: Definitely, all the producers have basically been making sets specific for this event, so much new music will be premiered. We worry about it being too much, not sure if peoples ears can take that much in one night. The party falls at a good time as Royal-T has a release on Rinse, Champion on his own Formula Records, and Terror Danjah & Ruby on Butterz around the same time so no doubt those tracks will get the biggest reaction as it will probably be most peoples first times hearing those tracks in a club.

What can we expect from your performance? Any tricks up your sleeve?

Elijah: HA! Yes, have to be prepared from now really, getting my sly dubplate game on. All of us on the line up are really competing against each other to have the best sets so I don’t really ask these lot for tunes, I have to go a bit further and wider to get what I need to smash up the rave! All though it is really competitive between all of us we are all doing well in what we do respectively so coming together for this night is really fun. Long may it continue!

Catch Elijah & Skilliam spinning together at Cable next month: We Fear Silence present Butterz & Hardrive – Saturday 24th March – Cable, London

Royal-T Interview & Mix

Rk — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:28:52 +0000

Southampton’s own Royal-T has had an intense couple of years since getting his first tracks played and supported on Elijah & Skilliam’s Rinse FM show, and has since gone on to have released on the Butterz label and become a mainstay for them. His seminal hits such ‘Orangeade’ and his work with the likes of P.Money, Yasmin and Katy B have solidified his place in the wave of new Grime producers. His style is both upfront and refined which has allowed him to carve out his niche within the scene as his club ready tracks have shown that Grime producers don’t have to imitate Dubstep to keep the dancefloor interested. We got a chance to speak with the rising start as he discussed collaborations and his vision for his career. He’s also recorded a mix full of his best tracks and remixes from 2011 so let that be a mere taster of what’s to come when he plays at We Fear Silence present Butterz & Hardrive on 24th March.

So Royal-T 2011 was a big year for Butterz as a collective, but what were your individual highlights?

A lot of big things happened last year to count but remixing for big artists was definitely a privilege and working with non-Grime tracks was cool. I had my first gig abroad which led to me playing in places like Prague, Amsterdam and eventually touring Australia and all around the UK. I featured on a Boy Better Know release which was a big moment too because before I started producing I was a huge fan.

You mention a big moment featuring on a Boy Better Know release what kind of other dreams do you have as a Grime producer that you think you can make happen in 2012?
There’s still artists involved in the scene I want to work so that would be a step I’d want to take. But Grime as a genre, I’d eventually like to take to festivals and more nights alongside DJs from other genres to represent and cement it back into the clubs. I’ve said it many times before but I want people to view Grime for its sound again and not the image that people from outside the scene think it is, I think that’s vital in the genre’s progression.

You released the Orangeade EP last year, now what can we expect from your new stuff? Has the touring influenced your music at all?

Yeah playing out has just made me more aware of what people like in the clubs and how I should cater to that. Not in a sense where I’m selling myself out by making Dubstep orientated stuff or anything like that but just in a way I’d enjoy if I was to hear it in a club. Sound wise just stuff that’s a lot more polished and as crazy as before. Everything on the Orangeade EP is about two years old now so I’ve had a lot of time to really test myself. Doing all the remixes in 2011 helped out a lot so I could experiment and see what works and what doesn’t.

Your set at the last Butterz & Hardrive night at Cable was one of the most well received, what are you going to bring to it this time?

A lot of unexpected stuff just to keep it moving and fun like always. I’m gonna go in with some new one-away bootlegs and catch people off guard again.

You were a newcomer in 2010 now going into 2012 you have firmly established yourself, do you now feel the pressure to deliver more this year than you did last year?

It would be easy to think that way but I’ve learned so much I’m just taking the last two years as like a dress rehearsal for the bigger things to come. I used 2011 to build up the artillery for 2012 and it’s gonna stay that way, would be stupid not to.

So now that you aren’t the newcomer, who are the people we have to be listening for in 2012?

Preditah had a huge 2011 and he’s bound to bring a lot more fire in 2012 along with Faze Miyake. I know that J Beatz is waiting in the wings with some of his material. Also a guy called OH91 from Bristol, he produces some sick stuff.

What about MC-wise, you hardly do any vocal tracks. Will that change this year?

It might do, I feel like a lot of MCs are scared of my tunes because of its club style, which is fine and up to them because I’m not really aiming to cater to them. I’ve found that the ones that do well over my tunes are the ones who can actually hold it up on a set and in a club. I’m happy with working with the guys I’ve worked with before really. When vocal tracks do get done though I want it to be with singers too. I suppose I’m just being strict, there’s plenty of producers that make big MC orientated tracks but my eyes are focused in a different direction, it’s up to the MCs if they want to join me or not.

What other kind of stuff are you listening to at the moment, what impact is that having on your production or is that completely independent?

I been listening back to loads of N*E*R*D again lately. That is all I’d listen to for a while when I was younger. Also, a lot of Alicia Keys for some reason. My listening habits go in circles sometimes, especially with old stuff. I listen to The Streets all the time. Thinking about it, a lot of my iTunes purchases lately have been old school hip hop like Common and stuff. Some stuff I listen to might influence my production sometimes because I find I don’t really listen to a lot of current Grime, that’s why my stuff sounds a lot different to everyone else. While everyone is trying to make the next ‘Spartan’ I’m on the other side making some other shit.

2011 has seen a lot more Grime acts from outside of London breaking the scene, what advice would you give to someone?

Be persistent and confident in your craft. We’re at a time where your music is more easily heard so use it to your advantage, accept criticism and build upon it. If you have faith in yourself and your ability then there shouldn’t be reason why you’re not willing to make sure everybody know this.

What have we got to look out for coming from you in the near future?

Right now I’m working on a solo project for release very soon. I’ve taken a backseat remix wise and have focused on this for a while. More will become clear soon.

Royal-T will be playing alongside JME, Terror Danjah, Elijah & Skilliam, Swindle, Champion and more at We Fear Silence present Butterz & Hardrive on 24th March.

Blackout January 2012 Photos

Rk — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:31:33 +0000

The debut of Blackout was unquestionably a great way to kick of the 2012 We Fear Silence party calendar. We’re sure all in attendance would agree that the music and vibe on the night was unparalleled, with Black Sun Empire showing us all why their night has been such a pillar of the Dutch D&B scene over the last few years. Sets from Ed Rush, Calyx, Audio, Klute, Ulterior Motive, and Presha set the dance floor alight and Paul Malin’s expert camera skills captured a few of these colourful moments for you all to relive.

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Black Empire Sun Interview

Rk — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:47:49 +0000

After 9 years of forward thinking nights in Utrecht, Holland – Black Empire Sun will be bringing their highly-revered Blackout event to Cable for the first time on 21st January. Having been making D&B since 2000, Rene Verdult and brothers Milan and Micha Heyboer have represented the deep and techy side of D&B and used the Blackout night as a platform for this evolving sound. Not only do they host their own nights but they are responsible for running two record labels (Black Sun Empire Recordings and Obsessions) so we were pleased to get some time with the trio to talk about their upcoming releases, why they chose Cable for the first Blackout in London and their wish to collaborate with Florence and The Machine. They’ve also gone to the trouble of recording mix for the event which you can stream below featuring plenty of Black Sun Empire material to tide you over till the 21st!

You have been described as some of the hardest working artists in the business. Apart from your heavy touring schedule what have you been up since your last release?

We just did a remix of Noisia’s track ‘Thursday’ which will be coming out on their re-release of ‘Split the Atom’ on Mau5trap, the home of Deadmau5. Besides that we made a lot of new music, moved studio and made plans for the future.

Do you have any plans to release a follow up to your critically acclaimed album lights and wires in 2012?

At the moment we’re working very hard on our 5th album. I can’t really say too much about it yet, but there will be a lot of collaborations on there. Some of the artists included are Noisia, Audio, Foreign Beggars, Rido, State of Mind and more. Just keep checking www.blacksunempire.com or www.facebook.com/blacksunempire for the latest information.

Through your labels you are able to help and nurture other artists at the beginning of their careers – which artists should we be looking out for in the near future?

Although he has been in the game for a while, this is the year Rido will get the recognition for the work he has done. Besides that Telekinesis and Neonlight will drop some bombs.

Your night has been going for 9 years what is the secret to your longevity?

I think it has something to do with the diversity of the line-ups and music. We dare to give new upcoming DJs a chance and put contradictive names (like Counterstrike, Marcus Intalex and Nero) on the same bill.

Which artists, both from D&B and outside of the scene would, you like to collaborate with?

Florence and The Machine or Ben Howard. They just have great voices and it would be interesting to try and make the two styles blend. It would be cool to sit in the studio with Spor, just because we always talked about it but never did haha. So Jon come on!

What records haven’t left your set over the last few months and why?

Muffler – Cybertron (Audio VIP): it’s insane! Just like the creator!

The Upbeats – Undertaker: just makes you want to bounce!

Noisia – Tryhard: omg

What made you decide to do your first London party at Cable and what can we expect?

London is the city we all looked at in the early days of jungle. The city that was host to a lot of legendary parties and it’s the city that still is. For us it has always been a dream to have our own night there. And now we are here. Normally Blackout has always been a mix between all the subgenres D&B has to offer. In London however (for the first show) we will focus a bit more on the sound we produce, as we think it might be a bit underrepresented in the UK scene.

Black Sun Empire will be performing alongside Ed Rush, Calyx, Audio, Klute and more at We Fear Silence & BSE present Blackout on Saturday 21st January.

A Bunch of Cuts December 2011 Photos

Rk — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:56:23 +0000

After Saturday’s A Bunch of Cuts party we’ve decided we definitely DO believe in Father Christmas. How else can you explain a line up so damn good and a party atmosphere that tore the roof off?! Calibre, D-Bridge, Doc Scott, Klute, Marcus Intalex, Lynx, Dom & Roland and Alley Cat all absolutely rocked it. If your memories are a little hazy, these great photos from Alex Varg should help you re-live the night…

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A Bunch of Cuts December 2011 Video Sets

Rk — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:17:32 +0000

After we were inundated with requests to upload footage from the recent A Bunch Of Cuts at Cable – we’ve succumbed to the pressure and given you sets from Marcus Intalex, Lynx and Alley Cat. If you were there on the night then you already know what to expect and if you couldn’t make it – you’re now lucky enough to grab a peek into the world of A Bunch Of Cuts with their forward-thinking approach to modern D&B. Be sure to subscribe to our channel for updates like this as you won’t want to miss out on our exclusive content in 2012!

Marcus Intalex

Lynx

Alley Cat

Words With Marcel Dettmann & Ben Klock

Rk — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:47:53 +0000

Flying the flag for Berlin’s infamous Berghain nightclub and Ostgut Ton record label, Marcel Dettmann and Ben Klock are known for their uncompromising take on Techno, both in production and DJing style. The pair have won plaudits for bringing a raw and authentic feel back to techno and championing the Berghain sound. In the build-up to Blueprint on 8th October we caught up with Marcel and Ben to talk about dubstep, running a record label and how to endure a 12-hour marathon DJ set.

You’re known for playing marathon sets of up to 12 hours at Berghain, how do you balance these sets between music that may be seen as leftfield and more club-focused material?

Ben: How do I balance it? I just play what I play when I think it’s the right time to play it.

Marcel: In general I don’t prepare my DJ sets record by record because I always try to be responsive to the atmosphere of the crowd. Being focused on the moment and then picking the right record is every time a great challenge for me whether it’s a marathon or a short set.

Although your lineage is in Techno you play everything from house classics right up to present day UK bass music from the likes of Pearson Sound, Scuba and Actress. What producers are you taking notice of at the moment and why?

Ben: I’m definitely more into Techno than Dubstep. It seems to be very fashionable at the moment to say: ‘Oh yeah, I play a lot of Dubstep in my Techno sets.’ The reality is it almost never happens and for good reasons. Where is the fun and the groove in those nerdy self-absorbed tracks? Don’t take me too seriously, I just like to provoke a bit. I follow Robert Hood, Planetary Assault Systems, DVS1 and Truncate.

Marcel: There are quite a lot of good producers at the moment who really surprise me so I don’t want to point out single names.

Having a respected Techno label like Ostgut Ton backing your sound, what made you decide to start your own label?

Ben: Klockworks has a more raw and stripped down feel – not as ‘epic’ as Ostgut. I wanted to have a, Work In Progress, platform besides Ostgut Ton.

Marcel: It started when I began to work at Hardwax. To get to know the [record] label business better felt very attractive to me and I really liked the fact of being my own boss. So I built up my own label MDR [Marcel Dettmann Records]. The thoughts behind it were – and still are – to provide a platform for friends and their music. Little by little I also released some of my own music. MDR was always meant to be a label with clear statements just focused on music. In connection with that I’m happy to announce that I just signed a new artist Wincent Kunth and there are two other great artists I’m just talking to at the moment.

What can we expect release-wise from you and your respective labels in the near future?

Ben: There is a new DVS1 release coming next month. Really looking forward to playing these tracks from vinyl finally. We [Marcel and I] wanted to work on a new double 12″ but we were both too busy with our own projects and traveling this year. We will try to make it next year.

Marcel: The Connected mix compilation will be released at the beginning of November. My last 12″ on Ostgut Ton has just been released and on MDR I will come up with a Wincent Kunth 12″ beginning of December. In matters of new things for Deuce [with Shed] or with Ben I hope we can manage something next year.

With such a heavy touring schedule, when was the last time you enjoyed yourself in a club when you weren’t playing?

Ben: That barely happens. I enjoy myself in a club when I play. Work and joy is one thing for me.

Marcel: To be honest I can’t remember. I’m always on tour and playing every weekend, so when there is a free time slot which I could use for going out I prefer doing other things and spend time with my wife and our friends.

As the Blueprint records night moves ever closer, what can we expect from your 4-hour back to back set with Marcel?

Ben: We’ll work our asses off to make it a good night for everyone. And of course expect some dubstep here and there in our set.

Marcel: Let us surprise you.

Ben Klock and Marcel Dettmann will be playing alongside James Ruskin at Blueprint on Saturday 8th October

Swamp81 October 2011 Photos

Rk — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:16:11 +0000

The sun was shining, spirits were high, and Swamp81 were back at Cable. How could it fail to be an amazing night? From Addison Groove and Loefah in the main room chopping up the freshest Dubstep, Juke, Garage and House to Rinse FM’s Oneman and his label mates Teeth, Fis-T and Visionist showcasing their take on the new hybrid sounds of dubstep, grime, house and UK garage for 502 Recordings – we were taken on a journey that we never wanted to end. Relive some of the moments in the photo gallery below as we say goodbye to a brief Indian summer.

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